Instinctive drift The preparedness of animals to seek appetitive and avoid aversive stimuli is fundamental to their ability to learn through operant conditioning (Jablonsky and DeVries, 1972). However, although operant learning has been used to train various species to perform particular behaviours, the learned behaviour may drift towards an innate species-specific behaviour. For example, Breland … Continue reading The importance of understanding an animal’s instinctive behaviour repertoire
Category: Other
What dogs need!
Traditionally, dog training has been all about what the human wants or needs. For example, stay, stand, eat this, don't eat that, stand still and be groomed, accept nail trimming, come here, keep out of my way, walk at my side, stop barking, don't growl,.......................... We really are incredibly demanding of dogs. I don't think … Continue reading What dogs need!
DON’T MISTAKE A DOG TRAINER’S CONFIDENCE FOR ABILITY
As dog trainers, what do we think of our own abilities? I imagine that almost all dog trainers believe themselves to be, at the very least, competent. It stands to reason that we would not be training dogs if we thought otherwise. But are we all competent, or are some of us hugely overestimating our … Continue reading DON’T MISTAKE A DOG TRAINER’S CONFIDENCE FOR ABILITY
Are choke chains, prong collars and shock collars okay if used correctly?
The notion that, when used correctly, choke chains, prong collars and shock collars are good options, is common. We only need to take a look around social media to see these arguments raging on a daily basis. Aren't we all just animal lovers trying to do the best for our pets? On the whole, yes, … Continue reading Are choke chains, prong collars and shock collars okay if used correctly?
Scatter Feeding: Are you killing your dog?
I recently read that scatter feeding (scattering food around) is a bizarre fad that will teach your dog to eat everything they find and possibly kill them. So here’s what I think. I understand that this conclusion can easily be arrived at, “scatter food and they’ll eat anything on the ground”. However, let’s take a … Continue reading Scatter Feeding: Are you killing your dog?
Contrafreeloading: Why animals may prefer to work for food
We see the argument put forward frequently that our dogs actually prefer to work for food rather than getting food for free. At first look, this seems illogical. Why would any animal choose a path of work and effort rather than a path of freebies? Foraging, hunting, and seeking are innate behaviours which are surely … Continue reading Contrafreeloading: Why animals may prefer to work for food
Extinction, really? is it?
I tend to struggle with the concept of behavioural extinction. Despite its place in many textbooks and journals, it doesn't sit well in my mind. A note for the non training theory geeks: In this context, punishment simply means to reduce the likelihood of something reoccurring, negative means to take something away, and environment refers … Continue reading Extinction, really? is it?
Do dogs feel guilt?
There has long been discussion over the ability of dogs to feel guilt, but what is guilt? Guilt is a feeling of regret that you have acted in a way which doesn't fit your morals and goes against your own ethical values. Ethical and moral values are constantly changing along with society. For example, particular … Continue reading Do dogs feel guilt?
Should we allow animals to say NO?
If we are asking an animal to do something then we generally expect them to do it. There's a really strong feeling (and I'm not only talking of aversive trainers) that humans are in charge and animals have to do as we say. I argue that it doesn't have to be this way. I first … Continue reading Should we allow animals to say NO?
WOULD YOU USE HOMEOPATHY ON YOUR PETS?
Pet owners may be attracted to the use of homeopathy as a natural alternative to conventional treatments. The lack of side effects compared to the possible side effects of modern medicines is indeed appealing. Practitioners of homeopathy believe that particular substances, when repeatedly diluted, may be used to treat the underlying cause of particular symptoms. … Continue reading WOULD YOU USE HOMEOPATHY ON YOUR PETS?
